About this Site

Emilie Davis was an African-American woman living in Philadelphia during the U.S. Civil War. This website is a transcription of Emilie’s three pocket diaries for the years 1863, 1864, and 1865. In them, she recounts black Philadelphians’ celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, nervous excitement during the battle of Gettysburg, and their collective mourning of President Lincoln. The diary allows readers to experience the war in real time, as events unfolded for Civil War Americans. Read More...

Page

December 6-8, 1865

Wednesday, December 6, 1865.

Clear and Cold i sent a letter home yesterday nell was here this morning very busy all the evening vincent stoped at a late hour

Thursday 7

very rainy Day very unusal for Thanksgivin Day to be Dull i went to hear mr Cato Preach at St Marys & in the afternoon stoped at bustils with vincent spent the eveng with Nell

Friday 8

clear and cold i was Down from EJ was out a little wayes mary was up in the evening helped me trim my bonnet